Philia
Magazine
Maria Loram
Maria Loram is a ceramic artist based in California whose practice spans collectible vessels, sculptural lighting, and functional objects. Born in Russia, she brings together a multidisciplinary background in science, linguistics, yoga, and visual art, approaching ceramics as both a material investigation and a philosophical inquiry.
Inspired by wabi-sabi aesthetics, Eastern philosophies, and the natural world, Loram creates tactile forms that explore the relationship between the organic and the cosmic. Through an intuitive process of wheel throwing, hand-building, and extensive glaze experimentation, her works balance sculptural presence with functionality, inviting moments of stillness, contemplation, and connection. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at Paris Design Week, and she has participated in artist residencies across the United States and Europe.
Dovain Studio
Dovain Studio is a Lisbon-based design studio founded by Sergio Prieto and Tiago De Lima. Working across collectible furniture and lighting, the studio creates sculptural pieces that balance artistic expression with functional design.
Drawing inspiration from architecture, travel, and everyday experiences, Dovain Studio is known for its bold use of color, geometric forms, and refined material palette. Collaborating closely with local artisans and manufacturers, the studio combines traditional craftsmanship with a contemporary design language, producing works that blur the boundaries between art and design.
Justus Knut Schomann
Justus Knut Schomann (b. 1999, Cologne) is a German designer whose practice moves between industrial and collectible design. After working closely with designer Mike Meiré, where he gained experience in creative direction and interdisciplinary design processes, Schomann established his independent practice, JKS Studio, in Cologne. His work explores the dialogue between archetypal forms, contemporary materials, and refined craftsmanship, creating furniture and objects that balance functional clarity with sculptural presence.
Drawing on materials ranging from cast bronze and natural stone to advanced composite fabrication, Schomann approaches design as a quiet yet enduring presence within everyday life. Guided by a fascination with material behaviour and making, he creates pieces that seek not only to serve a purpose, but also to evoke calm, permanence, and lasting emotional resonance.
Estudio Orth 5 Picks From Philia Collection
Estudio Orth is a multidisciplinary furniture and interior design studio based in São Paulo. Founded in 2018, it is led by the couple Seba Orth (designer) and Luísa Bianchetti (visual artist), who have been guiding the studio from its foundation.
With a maximalist palette of materials in service of a minimalist language, its work presents a sculptural approach to functional items such as lighting fixtures, seating, tables, rugs, and everyday accessory objects. Its practice engages with themes such as symbolism and brutalism, exploring forms that move between organicity and rationality.
All pieces are meticulously handcrafted by master artisans, one at a time. In the creative process, ancestral techniques such as metal casting, solid wood carpentry, and the use of exotic Brazilian stones lend material identity and maturity to the products.
